Non-Resident Doctoral Status (Dissertation Work in Absentia)
Doctoral students occasionally need to perform dissertation research in absentia (outside the Boston metropolitan area). The student must apply to the CAD for approval of non-resident status. The completion of the minimum two years residency requirement and the satisfactory completion of the Oral Qualifying Examination are prerequisites to gain non-resident status. A Non-Resident Status Petition Form and a Progress Report Form must be submitted to the CAD prior to the end of the semester preceding the requested departure. Both forms are available at the HSPH Registrar's Office.

Non-resident status will be granted for one year at a time only. Progress Reports will be due minimally every six months (or more frequently, if stipulated by the CAD) while the student is a non-resident. Non-resident students are required to return to HSPH at least once a year for a committee meeting - the other 6-month meetings/reviews may be done via conference call or e-mail. Before the CAD will consider a request for non-resident status, it is necessary for the Research Committee to meet with the candidate to appraise the dissertation plan. The Committee must complete the Progress Report Form and the student must submit it with the petition for non-resident status. The progress report must include the committee's assessment of the following items:

• the acceptability and feasibility of the proposed dissertation plan
  
• the timing and scope of the periodic written reports required of the student
  
• the arrangements which have been or will be made for direct supervision of the student
  
• an estimate of the minimum period of time the student will spend at HSPH prior to dissertation presentation and defense

It is assumed that the doctoral student will pursue dissertation work on a full-time basis while a non-resident. Therefore, the student must adhere to the timetable noted in this Handbook. If students wish to change their status from full- to part-time, (or continue part-time), additional information must be supplied on the Non-Resident Status Petition declaring the reason/s research will be conducted only on a part-time basis.

Non-resident students must meet the financial degree requirements of 2 years full-time tuition and 1 year full-time reduced tuition before their tuition is assessed at the non-resident rate. The CAD will not grant non-resident status for more than one year at a time. Both a Non-Resident Status Petition and an acceptable Progress Report Form must be submitted to the CAD before a request for a second year is considered.

Insurance Policy for Non-Resident Status
According to Massachusetts state law, a student who is conducting research on a non-resident full-time status will be billed for Blue Cross/Blue Shield Student Health Plan, but not for the University Health Service fees. Students may waive the Harvard sponsored BC/BS Student Health Plan only if their insurance carrier is a health insurance company based in the United States, and meets the minimum required by Massachusetts law. To waive the Harvard sponsored BC/BS Student Health Plan, a student must file a waiver form online at www.uhs.harvard.edu/Waiver/Waiver.htm by registration day. A waiver must be filed online each academic year. NO WAIVERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER REGISTRATION.

Doctoral Student Resource